Nothing is known of Bovil's origins or his parents, but he attended Oxford University at around the same time as Edmund of Abingdon, who became Bovil's good friend.[1] He first appears as a canon of York Minster in 1236, and was holding the prebend of Fenton by October 1240.[2] He was Archdeacon of York by January 1248,[3] but had been named Dean of York by 21 September 1249.[4] He earned a doctor of theology title by 1244.[1]
Bovil was archbishop for only two years between 1256 and his death in 1258. He was selected about 1 October 1255 and was consecrated on 23 July 1256,[5] at York by Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester.[1] He received a papal dispensation to become archbishop because he was illegitimate on 11 March 1256.[6] Pope Alexander IV then provided Jordan, an Italian, to the now vacant deanery, but Bovil objected and attempted to keep Jordan out.[1] Alexander IV then excommunicated the archbishop in 1257.[6] After a compromise was reached whereby Jordan received a pension, Bovil was absolved. Godfrey Ludham was then promoted to the deanery. In July 1257 he was appointed to a commission to mediate between King Alexander III of Scotland and the Scottish nobles.[1]
The archbishop died on 10 May 1258 and was buried in York Minster.[6]Matthew Paris wrote that he was "a humble and holy man well skilled in law and other sciences."[7]
Citations
^ abcdeKingsford "Bovill, Sewal de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
^Quoted in Kingsford "Bovill, Sewal de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
References
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-56350-X.
Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Archbishops". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Archdeacons: York". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Deans". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
Greenway, Diana E. (1999). "Prebenderies: Fenton". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 6: York. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 22 September 2007.